Texas A&M guard TJ Starks dibbles the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Texas A&M guard TJ Starks dibbles the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Photo: Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

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Texas A&M guard TJ Starks tries to get past Arkansas defender Dustin Thomas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Texas A&M guard TJ Starks tries to get past Arkansas defender Dustin Thomas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Photo: Michael Woods, Associated Press

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Texas A&M guard TJ Starks (2) goes around Kentucky forward PJ Washington (25) for a basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

Texas A&M guard TJ Starks (2) goes around Kentucky forward PJ Washington (25) for a basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, in College Station, Texas. (AP

Texas A&M’s T.J. Starks vows head shoves are behind him, with Alabama again on tap

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COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M point guard T.J. Starks said fellow freshman Collin Sexton of Alabama was “just talking noise – trying to get in somebody’s head” when the two squared off last weekend in Reed Arena.

Starks admitted Sexton’s ploy worked – why he wound up shoving Sexton upside the head late in the Aggies’ 68-66 victory. Starks said this week he regretted the instant that got him ejected, while Sexton also drew a technical for what the officials dubbed provoking Starks.

“That’s not who I am – that’s not in my character,” Starks said of the spontaneous shove. “I just let my emotions get the best of me.”

He also knows all eyes will be on the duo when they face each other again at high noon Thursday in No. 8 seed A&M’s and No. 9 seed Alabama’s first game of the SEC Tournament in St. Louis.

“I won’t let something like that happen again,” Starks said.

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The NCAA March Madness Tournament Explained The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament is single-elimination, The term March Madness was popularized by an Illinois high school official, Henry V. Porter, in 1939, but it was Brent Musburger who used it during coverage of the 1982 tournament. The winner of the tournament for the 32 Division I conferences receives an automatic bid. The selection committee also decides which school among non-qualifiers has the pedigree to earn an invite to the tournament. Selection Sunday on March 11 March Madness officially begins March 11 and runs through April 2, when the NCAA men's basketball championship takes place.

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Why did it happen to begin with? Starks said he’s passionate about playing basketball – and navigating the Aggies (20-11) into the NCAA Tournament following the SEC get-together on the banks of the Mississippi River.

“I’m trying to do whatever I can for this team,” said Starks, who took over at starting point guard in late January and has bloomed as a much-needed playmaker in the A&M offense. “I love this team, and I just want to get a win every time we step on the floor from this point out."